Finland

Finland, a Nordic European country located in northern Europe sharing borders with Sweden to the west, Russia to the east, and Norway to the north, welcomes students from all races, religions, cultures, and languages around the globe. Offering more than 400 English-taught Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in 35 universities (including multidisciplinary universities and the university of applied sciences), Finland is a perfect study destination for international students.

Finland, covering an area of 130678 sq. mi, is a European country representing a Nordic way of democracy. Finland consists of 19 regions governed by regional councils. There are 309 municipalities, seventy sub-regions, and nineteen regions in Finland. The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. Euro is the official currency of Finland.

 

Fun Facts about Finland

1. Finland has known as the second happiest nation globally, which will surely please international students in Finland.

2. Swedish-speaking Finnish illustrator Tove Jansson created the hippo-like creatures known as the Moomins. The creatures starred in nine books, five picture books, and a long-running comic strip, along with their many TV appearances.

3. Finland has the world's highest density of heavy metal bands per capita.

4. Finland has approximately 2 million saunas, with 99 percent of Finns using one at least once a week. In Finland, there is a Burger King with an in-store sauna.

5. Finns invented the Molotov cocktail.

 

Why Choose Finland?

World-renowned Education System

Finland is one of the European countries which offer world-class education in the world. It has got the most standardized education system and provides the best programs for Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level, A well-known nation for its architecture and design courses, Finland is also a global leader in Information Technology. The education system in Finland is divided into two parts; universities and polytechnic universities

University: Research-based institutions that teach theory and the academic side of the subjects.

Polytechnic University: Institutions that emphasize the practical side, preparing graduating international students for careers in applied fields.

There are 14 universities that provide academic degrees in Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral (PhD) level. Due to the standardized admissions process of Finnish colleges, entrance exams play a crucial role in the selection. There are no essays, no interviews, and no holistic views of applicants to evaluate applicants in college admissions decisions.

Affordable Tuition Fees

The tuition fee is free for domestic students and other EU countries. International students need to pay a tuition fee per year, which is reasonable. However, there are funding opportunities for education in Finland. Many Finnish universities provide generous scholarships to international students. These scholarships are based on academic performance. Some universities may offer a full tuition fee scholarship, making education effectively tuition-free. Mostly the scholarships for a percentage deduction on tuition fees are more common.

Job opportunities

Finding a job might be hard while studying abroad for international students. Therefore, considering this, most universities provide career services for their international students. According to this scheme, Finnish universities lend their hand Pathways to Permanent Residency during the job search, whether a part-time job or a full-time job after graduation.

According to Statistics Finland, 55 percent of university students reported having an employment contract while studying. Therefore, it is not uncommon to have a part-time job while studying. A student is allowed to work 30 hours part-time job in Finland, unlike in other European countries.

A well-connected nation

Since Finland is one of the Scandinavian nations, it is convenient to travel from Finland to nearby Scandinavian or northern and eastern Europe. Finland holds a unique place between east and west, making it well-placed for flights to and from Asia. The airports there have already launched plans to enhance Asian traffic by 2020. Finnair was the very first European airline that offered non-stop flights to Tokyo, Japan. This airline currently offers 77 non-stop flights to Asia from Helsinki every week.

A Safe Country

The capital city, Helsinki of, Finland is known as the second safest city in the world. Outside the city, crime rates are remarkably low. Similarly, the corruption rate is also extremely low in Finland. The country was named as the least corrupted country for years.

 

The Educational System

Over 500 English Language is taught for bachelor's and master's degree programs offered by Finland's world-class higher education system, including 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences (UAS). The universities also provide English-taught Ph.D. programs. In Finland's higher education institutions, around 20, 000 international students are currently enrolled.

Scholarships are available to international students at any institution or university of applied sciences.

 

Academic Year and Courses

The academic year of Finland starts on August 1 and finishes on July 31 the following year. The autumn period runs from August 1 to December 31, whereas the spring term runs from January 1 to July 31. The courses in the following sectprs offered by the Finland Universities are:

• Agriculture
• Architecture
• Biology
• Business Management
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Data Science
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Food Science
• Forestry
• Geography
• Health Technology
• International Business
• Law
• Marketing
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nursing
• Software Engineering
• Urban Planning

 

Student Visa Requirements

• At the time of your application, you must have a valid passport. If your passport was issued within the last ten years and will not expire for another three months after leaving Finland, it is still considered valid.
• The application must include a recent identity photo. Remember to follow the Schengen visa photo guidelines when taking the image for your visa application. The application must include a recent identity photo. Remember to follow the Schengen visa photo guidelines when taking the image for your Schengen visa.
• Passport Bio-page copy submission is mandatory for the visa submission.
• Proof of enrolment is required. You must confirm that you have been accepted into a study program at a Finnish institution.
• Health insurance is a need. In addition, you must furnish foreign student health insurance that covers all types of medical emergencies until you stay in Finland.
• Financial resources are sufficient. You must have at least €560 per month in your personal bank account to pay your living expenses while you are studying.
• Proof of payment of the tuition price. You must include a document stating that you have paid your tuition charge; if you haven't, you must reveal that you have sufficient financial resources to pay the fee.
• Evidence of academic excellence: You must produce a certificate demonstrating that the scholarship will financially support you if you receive a scholarship that covers your tuition fee.
• Documents proving your civil status which includes the Birth Certificate, Relationship Certificate, and Tax Clearance.
• Certificates obtained previously. For degree students and exchange students, these are not required.

 

Employment Opportunities

International students with a student visa in Finland can work part-time jobs up to 30 hours per week. Working hours are not limited to 30 hours during the breaks. Students are only permitted to work in jobs linked to their study-related field.

 

Scholarships Options

The Finland Scholarships are intended for talented international students who must pay tuition and apply to international master's programs at Finnish universities. These scholarships are not available for master's degrees at UAS.

This program also includes Finland Doctoral Fellowships for doctoral studies and research in Finnish universities.

Scholarships at the Bachelor's and Master's Levels

For international students liable to tuition costs and applying for international bachelor's or master's programs, all Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS) provide their own funding possibilities.

Funding for the Doctoral/ PhD Level

There is research-related funding available, such as the national EDUFI Fellowships, if you are going to Finland to pursue your doctorate (Ph.D.). Universities may also provide compensated doctoral research posts or their own doctoral funding programs.

 

Process for applying to study in Finland

• 1. Select Your Program. Use https://studyinfo.fi national application site database to locate the best alternative for you.
• 2. Check out the admissions information
• 3. Fill out an application for a program or a scholarship.
• 4. Wait for the results - and make sure you have a place to study
• 5. Get ready for your arrival.

 

Documents Checklist for Finland

These are some of the general documents for the international students:

• The application form was filled out completely
• English proficiency test score like IELTS, TOEFL.
• Acceptance certificate from a Finnish institution of higher learning
• Proof that you will be able to sustain yourself financially during your studies. You'll need at least 560 EUR every month (6,720 EUR per year).
• A valid passport and a passport photograph are required.
• You will also require professional translations if the associated documents are not in English, Finnish, or Swedish.
• Proof of payment of the processing cost of 450 EUR (paper application)/350 EUR (online application) (electronic application)
• Health insurance for international students

 

Cost for study and Accommodation

Although the Nordic countries are often thought to be more expensive than other European destinations, numerous privileges and discounts are available to students living in Finland.

Students' monthly living expenses (including food, lodging, travel, insurance, and so on) range from €700 to €1,000, depending on where you'll be living and your particular habits, and are often more in larger cities than in smaller ones.The education costs change at different levels of study and types of qualification. Some listed the average costs of education (in AUD), excluding veterinary and medical courses, according to the calculations of the Finish Government

The majority of universities provide full scholarships to international students. The following are some of the university fees:

• Helsinki Metropolia UAS- 10,000 to 12,000 EUR per year
• University of Eastern Finland- 8,000 to 15,000 EUR per year
• University of Helsinki - 13,000 to 18,000 EUR per year
• University of Oulu - 10,000 to 13,000 EUR per year

So, if you are looking forward to study in Finland, feel free to contact us. Get your queries answered by our experts.